As Amazon Spreads Podments in Seattle, New York already deals with podment neurosis: increased claustrophobia, domestic abuse, and alcoholism.
(abridged and commented from NY Observer) Even though Mayor Michael Bloomberg has championed the micro-unit, some experts are concerned that living in 250 to 370 feet spaces could be risky.
Dak Kopec, director of design for human health at Boston Architectural College, told The Atlantic. “Sure, these micro-apartments may be fantastic for young professionals in their 20’s, But they definitely can be unhealthy for older people, say in their 30’s and 40’s, who face different stress factors that can make tight living conditions a problem.”
Of course, Amazon is pnly interests in the ready flow of young uns who feed its effort. Families are a post Amazon issue. The observer article notes: … researchers believe that children need bigger spaces to flourish. “I’ve studied children in crowded apartments and low-income housing a lot,” Susan Saegert, Director of the Housing Environments Research Group, said to the publication. “They can end up becoming withdrawn, and have trouble studying and concentrating.”
Ms. Saegert said that cramped living environments could have an even worse effect on a child’s psyche than an older individual.
Read more at http://observer.com/2013/12/experts-link-mental-health-dangers-to-modern-micro-unit-apartments/#ixzz2oETMOikK Follow us: @newyorkobserver on Twitter | newyorkobserver on Facebook